iGoogle is sometimes called a "Start Page." Start page can be defined as "the first page that opens when you access the web." (p. 153) Others might call it a "portal" - because you can have it as a start to any "adventure" on the web. In any case, as you learn to do more on the web, you will want to come back to iGoogle and trade out or add gadgets, possibly even whole pages.
To supplement the text, go to http://www.google.com/ig or at http://www.google.com click on the Start your page link under the Google search box in the plain Google search page. You will need to sign in. Also, there are these screencasts from iTunesU (Google Tools) under iPod on your iPad: "iGoogle" and "iGoogle Examples." And, see iGoogle in iBooks.
Performance Record
I hope you take advantage of the opportunity to set up your own iGoogle start page. That page need not have an educational focus. There is no way to share these pages since the pages are visible only to the account holder. It is helpful though, to direct your thoughts toward how setting up a page in iGoogle might be useful to you as a teacher, and how you might help your students set up iGoogle pages in a school setting. Please comment on each of these points (teacher's perspective and for students) in a reply to the topic "iGoogle" on the GAIN-CPED5300 discussion board at Google Groups. Lesson Plans
Social Studies - "Election Central"Lerman & Hicks, page 319
(This lesson plan apparently was initially developed at the high school level. However, when following the progress of an election, it appears that this lesson plan also could be used with middle school classes, and possibly some upper elementary classes, in social studies. With our upcoming 2012 elections beginning to cycle up, you might want to try creating a tab like this in your iGoogle "page.")
To supplement the text, go to http://www.google.com/ig or at http://www.google.com click on the Start your page link under the Google search box in the plain Google search page. You will need to sign in. Also, there are these screencasts from iTunesU (Google Tools) under iPod on your iPad: "iGoogle" and "iGoogle Examples." And, see iGoogle in iBooks.
To make iGoogle your Start Page, see http://www.google.com/support/websearch/bin/answer.py?answer=25557&topic=13919 (p.153).
Performance Record
I hope you take advantage of the opportunity to set up your own iGoogle start page. That page need not have an educational focus. There is no way to share these pages since the pages are visible only to the account holder. It is helpful though, to direct your thoughts toward how setting up a page in iGoogle might be useful to you as a teacher, and how you might help your students set up iGoogle pages in a school setting. Please comment on each of these points (teacher's perspective and for students) in a reply to the topic "iGoogle" on the GAIN-CPED5300 discussion board at Google Groups.
Lesson Plans
Social Studies - "Election Central" Lerman & Hicks, page 319